Let’s say you’re doing your last routine diaper change on your little one before you put her to sleep when you notice something unusual on her nether regions.
Nasty DIAPER RASH alert!
I panicked the first time it happened to me.
And that’s when we discovered the smooth-like-butter (thank you, BTS) power of natural diaper rash creams!
Unlike some conventional diaper creams, all diaper creams on this list are made with certified organic ingredients, including organic oils and mineral oils.
Best Overall
Best Prevention Pick
6 Best Natural Diaper Creams for Newborns
1. The Honest Company Diaper Rash Cream
BEST OVERALL
Physician-tested, NSF-certified, and an EWG Rating of 1.
You can count on this product to give your baby the best treatment WITHOUT any harmful substances!
The Honest Co. is a well-known and trusted company for safe and eco-friendly products, so rest assured that this is a purchase that is WORTH IT!
NOTE: It contains small amounts of Linalool, which may irritate babies with sensitive skin.
Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 14%, Organic Sunflower Seed Oil, Organic Cera Alba, Organic Castor Seed Oil, Organic Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Organic Cocos Nucifera, Organic Olive Fruit Oil, Organic Grape Seed Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Tamanu Seed Oil, Tocopherol (Non-GMO), Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Oil, Geraniol and Linalool
2. Motherlove Diaper Balm
BEST ORGANIC PICK
This simple product does exactly what it’s supposed to do: Soothe that really uncomfortable rash!
It only contains 6 ingredients, and I love how they’re all certified organic. Don’t worry about zinc oxide or petroleum here!
This antifungal and antibacterial balm has all you need to keep your baby’s rashes and irritated skin in check!
Ingredients: Organic Extra virgin olive oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Oregon grape root, Organic Myrrh gum, Organic Yarrow herb, Organic Calendula flower
3. Boudreaux’s Butt Paste With Natural Aloe
BEST PREVENTION PICK
This is a great solution to consider if other all-natural products don’t seem to work.
With 16% zinc oxide, this product can power through any rash problems in your way! However, I DON’T recommend using this product daily because of its stronger formulation.
It’s best to use in the event of persistent rashes.
Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 16%, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Beeswax, Citric Acid, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Myroxylon Pereirae (Balsam Peru) Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil
4. Earth Mama Organic Diaper Balm
“Earth Mama” — you know this brand is an ECO-CONSCIOUS, mommy favorite.
This balm is non-toxic, 100% certified USDA organic, EWG-verified, vegan, and gluten-free. It has your child’s AND the environment’s best interest at heart!
Many parents swear by this product’s effectiveness, and I can back up that claim. This is a wonderful go-to product that will NOT disappoint.
Ingredients: Organic Olive Fruit Oil, Organic Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Organic Beeswax, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Lavender Flower Oil, Organic Calendula Flower Extract, Organic St. John’s Wort Extract, Organic Chickweed Extract, Organic Plantain Extract, Organic Tea Tree Leaf Oil
5. Poofy Organics Happy Tush Diaper Cream
Poofy Organics is a family-owned and operated company. They do NOT test on animals and use recyclable and biodegradable packaging. How admirable!
You can count on this product to protect your baby’s sensitive skin. There are no parabens, triclosan, synthetic fragrances, and GMOs.
Just natural and organic ingredients!
Ingredients: Zinc Oxide (non-nano), Organic Beeswax, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Shea Butter (Unrefined), Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Lavender Essential Oil, Organic Roman Chamomile Essential Oil, Organic Tea Tree Essential Oil
6. Burt’s Bees Baby Diaper Rash Ointment
Burt’s Bees Baby is a well-known brand that makes some of the best and safest baby items. This ointment is no exception!
With 40% zinc oxide, it provides MAXIMUM STRENGTH to care for the nastiest rashes. With that, I also don’t recommend using this too often as it might become too irritating.
Another thing I love is that it is pediatrician-tested and clinically proven to be safe and effective for delicate baby skin.
It’s the perfect addition to your diaper bag, and it serves as a great baby shower gift, too!
Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 40%, Organic Sweet Almond Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Lanolin, Organic Castor Seed Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter, Glyceryl Rosinate, Organic Olive Fruit Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Organic Rosemary Oil, Organic Soybean Oil, Canola Oil
Why Put Diaper Rash Creams on Your Baby’s Bottom?
All babies have naturally sensitive skin.
The topmost layer of your little one’s skin is 20-30% thinner than an adult’s.
Without the protective moisture barrier from a natural diaper rash cream, your infant’s skin is vulnerable to the adverse effects of prolonged exposure to diaper rash-inducing factors like:
- Prolonged contact with wet/dirty diaper
- Chafing of your baby’s skin against the diaper
- Allergic reaction to chemical ingredients
- Yeast infection
Why Use Natural Diaper Rash Creams?
The good thing about natural diaper rash creams is you can either use them on your baby as a preventive measure or as a cure.
Upon application, diaper rash creams create a moisture barrier between your baby’s delicate skin and the diaper.
So, the best tip that I can give you about using a diaper rash cream on your little one is this:
PREVENTION is better than cure.
FAQs About Diaper Rashes (Diaper Dermatitis)
#1 How Much Diaper Cream Should I Use in One Application?
A thick layer (about 1/4 inches) is most recommended to create a moisture barrier between your baby’s bottoms and their diapers.
This applies whether you’re applying rash creams on your baby’s bottom to treat diaper rash or preventing diaper rash.
It’s also important to note that most diaper cream brands advise parents to apply diaper creams EVERY DIAPER CHANGE.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not try to scrub off any excess diaper cream with your hands or a random cloth, as it might cause more irritation your baby’s skin.
Instead, soak a cotton ball in mineral oil and use this to scrub off any excess diaper cream.
#2 How Do I Know If My Baby Is Being Bothered by Diaper Rash?
Diaper dermatitis is incessantly itchy and painful.
Aside from the usual symptoms, Dr. Marnie Baker stated that fussiness during baths and squirming during diaper changes might indicate that your baby is bothered by a developing diaper rash.
#3 How Long Does It Take for Severe Diaper Rash to Heal?
The length of treatment usually depends on:
- The SEVERITY of the rash
- WHEN you started treating it
- Your CONSISTENCY in treating your little one’s rash
A rule of thumb would be seeing improvement after three (3) days of consistent treatment with diaper cream.
#4 When Should You Go to the Doctor for a Diaper Rash?
The rule of thumb would be to consult a doctor or a pediatrician after three (3) days of no visible healing in your little one’s diaper rash.
Some additional symptoms to look out for are:
- Fever
- Pus coming from diaper rash bumps
- The appearance of more severe blisters
#5 What Can I Use If I Don’t Have Diaper Rash Cream?
Don’t panic!
Here’s a list of common items found around the house that you may use as an immediate natural remedy for your little one:
- Coconut oil – Relieves inflamed diaper rash
- Breast milk – Reduces the severity of red patches and lesions
- Petroleum jelly – Prevents diaper rash
- Aloe vera – Decreases skin irritation and scaling
- Baking soda – Effectively kills yeast cells that cause yeast infection
- Fresh yogurt – Alleviates the pain caused by your little one’s diaper rash
- Oatmeal bath – Heals skin and soothing diaper rashes
Otherwise, you can also try an organic baby lotion as it has similar soothing properties and can help with your baby’s diaper rash!
All-Natural Homemade Diaper Rash Cream Recipes: DIY Guide
I have carefully chosen my top organic diaper rash creams, but I’ve also considered the advantages of using a homemade natural diaper rash cream.
You may want to try them IF:
- You want to ensure the safety of the ingredients that go into your baby’s natural diaper rash creams.
- You want to save money.
- You want a more sustainable lifestyle.
There are numerous DIY diaper cream recipes that mostly use natural ingredients online and I’ve chosen two out of all of them for your convenience!
1. Homemade Natural Diaper Rash Cream By Sara McFall
What we like about this recipe:
- Cloth diaper-safe/Cloth diaper-friendly
- Disposable diaper-safe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup natural Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter
- 1/2 cup organic coconut oil
- 5–10 drops of Lavender, Roman Chamomile, or Tea Tree oil
- 1 tbsp. beeswax pastilles
- (For disposable diapers) 3 tbsp. zinc oxide powder
- (For cloth diapers) 3 tbsp. arrowroot powder or cornstarch
- Optional: 2 tbsp. vegetable glycerine or aloe vera gel
Procedure:
- Fill up a relatively large pan with water either 3/4 of the way up or just until the halfway mark.
- Bring water to a boil.
- Once the water is boiling, throw in the shea butter, beeswax, and coconut oil in a smaller pan that fits inside the larger pan with the already boiling water.
- Put the smaller pan inside the larger pan while carefully avoiding the water in the larger pan from overflowing into the smaller pan.
- Let the ingredients in the smaller pan melt (this should take no longer than 5 minutes).
- Once melted, you can turn off the stove and let the melted ingredients cool off in the fridge until they harden.
- Once cooled, scoop and put into the mixer (a hand mixer will work too — if no mixer is available, you can also mix it using a spatula).
- Add 3 tablespoons of zinc oxide and 2 tablespoons of optional vegetable glycerin.
- Mix for 5-10 minutes until visibly thicker.
2.) Homemade Diaper Rash Cream By Katie Vance
What we like about this recipe:
- Only natural ingredients
Ingredients:
- 3 oz shea butter
- 2 oz olive oil
- 7 oz coconut oil
- 1 cup organic dried chamomile
- 2 ounces beeswax
Procedure:
- Add the shea butter, olive oil, and coconut oil to a large sealable container (preferably a mason jar, as it will be in contact with hot water).
- Place the container in a small pan filled with a cup or two of water.
- Allow the oils to melt.
- Add the dried chamomile.
- Stir until the oils, and dried chamomile are well-mixed.
- Simmer on low heat for an hour (ensure the water does NOT boil).
- Strain out the dried chamomile.
- Add the beeswax to the still warm, strained-out oil mixture.
- Submerge the sealable container back into the small pan with water.
- Keep on low heat until the beeswax has melted.
FAQs About Homemade Organic Diaper Rash Cream + Related Questions
Which Oil Is Best for Diaper Rashes?
Coconut oil, olive oil, and organic castor oil are some of the oils that work best in preventing and treating diaper dermatitis.
Suppose you have any stock Vitamin E capsules, Zinc Oxide, Organic theobroma cacao (cocoa seed butter), and sunflower wax.
In that case, you may also be able to whip up your very own natural diaper rash cream!
Is Coconut Oil Safe as a Diaper Rash Cream?
Absolutely!
It’s mild enough to be used as both a preventive measure and a treatment for diaper dermatitis.
You can find it in most natural diaper rash creams and homemade recipes!
What Does Vitamin E Do?
Vitamin E alleviates skin pain and irritation caused by diaper dermatitis. This is why it’s a commonly mentioned vitamin for skin relief.
Does Apple Cider Vinegar Help With Diaper Rash?
YES!
The acetic acid component of apple cider vinegar makes it one of the most effective ingredients in treating yeast infections and bacteria.
What Is a Diaper Balm?
Diaper balm is a diaper cream formulated to look and function like a lip balm.
If you want to try using a diaper balm on your baby, I advise that you screen its ingredients first, as balms are very similar to creams.
Diaper balms have also been proven effective against a baby’s cradle cap.
Personally, I found Motherlove’s Diaper Balm and the Earth Mama Organic Diaper Balm as great options!
Are There Advantages in Using Cloth Diapers?
Some claim that using cloth diapers on your babies can reduce infections in the nether area.
BUT! Cloth diapers do NOT absolutely prevent infections.
The best way to avoid infections is to maintain proper hygiene and use preventive actions such as using a natural diaper rash cream on your baby.
Additionally, use natural, eco-friendly diapers instead just to stay safe!
What Is Zinc Oxide?
Zinc oxide has antiseptic properties that help in treating diaper dermatitis.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure that the zinc oxide component of the product is non-nano zinc oxide, as it would mean that the zinc particles will not end up penetrating your infant’s skin and getting into your little one’s bloodstream.
Unlike non-nano zinc oxide, a nano zinc oxide is more likely to enter your and your baby’s bloodstream. SCARY.
Conclusion
The best diaper rash cream is the one that works on your baby without the use of any ingredients that pose potential harm.
Whether it’s from an organic diaper cream or your own diaper rash cream you’ve made yourself, you’ll have to do some trial and error.
It’s a worthwhile journey before your little one can go diaper-free!
Rest assured, however, that all the products and recipes we mentioned are the BEST options you can consider for your baby.
So take a pick, and good luck!
